Adjustable sign



A118 2, 1960 l.. D. BARRY 2,947,101

ADJUSTABLE SIGN Filed Jan. 26, 1955 MCN/CHOIS RD. 63. WAR .LJMRENra 64. OUTER UIP/Vf 65. Warn/ER Il I 5 5/ I u /v0i u] IN V EN TOR.

UnitedStates Patent Filed Jan; ze, 19.55, ser. No. 484,283 13 Claims. (Cl. 411-53) This invention relates to adjustable signs and in particular to a Vsign for listing stops to be made by a vehicle of transportation.

My signs have particular 'utility in the cars for service as described in my pending application Ser. No. 564,511. It isA an object of this invention to provide an adjustable sign for listing stops to be made by vehicles which are to be detached from a train to provide local, transfer, or branch-line service so that passengers desiring to get olf at these stops can select the proper vehicle to make theirrstop.

If cars are added to the front of a train and uncoupled from the rear, the signs are placed in each car to be set by the operator when the car is coupled to the train, the operator setting the sign to display the stops to be made by that car when later uncoupled from the end of the train for another local, transfer, or branch line run. walk through the train and select by reading these signs the car that will make their stop or transfer.

e If cars are added to and dropped from the rear or side of a train,'these signs can be placedV in eachcar 'of the train and automatically changed as herein disclosed to displayonly stops'to be made by the next car or cars which'leave the train so'that passengers will know when to goto thecar or'cars about to be uncoupled by reference to this visual listingof stops and connections to be made bythesecars. 'a

If it is desired Yto list train stops in each car of a train or display portionsof lists or other information on a plurality of signs or rolls a feature'v of this invention provides an arrangement .'whereby the setting of any sign can set all other signs with anism and hookup.' x i -Information such as dining car menu or places o interest `could be displayed in each car or compartment on the same signs that list train stops. This visual means Passengers on the car when coupled to the train can a relatively simple mechis` preferred to a loud-speaker system, since only those `desiriiigthe information need look at-the sign and the information displayed can remain in view as long as it is pertinent.

This sign in simple and preferred form, comprises lbriefly 'aV sign 'roll listing along its lengthinV` consecutive order the stops on one or more transit'runs, an enclosure orframe 'for holding the roll for viewing a portion Vof the roll longv enough 4to include the maximum number of stops which'might be made on a'single local run, a shieldorcover roll arranged to cover over the sign roll `to display only the stops made on a particular run, these Arolls-being conveniently arranged for the operator to set `by turning knobs or hand wheels. The cover roll is also useful in'covering over the sign while it isV being turned. Other objects of this invention are to provide an .adjustable sign suited for displaying a variable number of train'stopsfrom a long list, one which has an easily adjustable cover for covering information not thento'be Idisplayed, onewhich can be `adjusted easily,one simple ,in,construction, onenot. easily subject to being tampered 2,947,101 4 Patented Ang. 2, 1960 with, Vonewhich can be remotely controlled, and further one which can be either manually or remotely adjusted according to manual adjustment of a similar sign.

These, other, and further objects which should become apparent from this disclosure are combined in the preferred embodiment of this invention described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:A

Figure 1 is a front view of the sign with a portion thereofbroken away to clarify details.

Figure 2 is a right side view of the sign shown in Figure l. e

Figure 3 is a front view of the upper right hand corner of the sign with cover removed to show details of the reeling mechanism. j

Figure 4 is a side view of the sign showing only the knob lockout mechanism, which prevents passengers from turning the sign. Y 1 Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the remote control operating ratchets and Velectrical circuits associated therewith. V Y

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a ratchet wheel holding tongue. j

Referring to the drawing and in particular to Figures 1, 2, and 3, sign roll 10 having stations or stops listed thereon is reeled as a scroll on drum Yor reel 14 at the top and 15 at the bottom. Drums 14 and 15 are respectively secured on shafts 16 and 17 supported to revolve in an enclosure or box 18 which houses the sign. Each drum is preferably flanged. A cover roll 20 is arranged to cover over sign roll 10 to obscure stops from |view which are not to be made. The cover roll is carried at the top on ribbons 22 (cords or chains can be substituted for 22).- One ribbon supports each side of the cover roll. Each ribbon is fastened and wrapped on a reel 24, which is secured on shaft 26, which is rotatably'lmounted in box 18 above shaft 16. The cover roll is wound on drum 27, which is fastened `on shaft 29, whichris rotatably mounted in box 18 below shaft 17. All rolls are secured to the drums on which they are wrapped to prevent slip. Box 18 hasan opening 30 in its cover face for viewing the portion of sign reel not covered `over by the cover reel. The opening 30 has a glass cover 31 secured in a usual way. Rollers 32 are arranged and secured to box 18 to prevent cover roll 20 from rubbing sign roll 10. Roller 32 can be omitted if the diameter of the cover rolls and spools is enlarged or their shafts locatedforward sufliciently'relative to the shafts of the sign roll. Shafts 26, 16, 17, and 29 are axially held in enclosure 18 by any suitable means such'as a washer ange on each shaft engaginga pocket 33 fastened in box 18.

A feature of this invention is the arrangement for turn ing the reels from hand wheels 34 or knobs 35. Hand wheels 34 or knobs 35 -are each secured on a tube 36 which rotatably fits over the end of a shaft. Preferably the sign reel has wheels 34 on yits shafts andthe cover reel has the smaller knobs 35, the equivalent of wheels 34. A slip collar 38 is axially secured to rotate on each knob tube 36 a short distance within box y18. The two slip collars on theupper shafts 26 and 16, and similarly the two slip collars on the lower shafts 17 and 29. are connected together by a double yoke arm 40 pivotally 'secured in the middle by pin `42 to box 18. The yoke 40 engages a pin on each of the two adjacent collars to axially movethe collars and knob tub whereby when one knob is pressed in the adjacent knob cornes out. On the inner end of each knob tube 36 isa toothed clutch face 44V arturned at `a time in a given direction, thus enabling both the sign and cover rolls to be remotely adjusted (as described later herein) using only two Wires and a ground return between signs.

A locking linkage arrangement 46, shown in Figures 3 and 4, wedges all four clutch faces 44 from faces 45 so that the knobs cannot turn the rolls and 20, and the reels 14, 15, 24, and 27 are free to be electrically rotated. Solenoid 48 is arranged to open this locking arrangement whenever the operator desires to set the sign. Relay 48 is energized through control current either by a key turned switch not shown or from the head-end car while the controller is energized, or'through a switch inaccessible to the passengers; whereby the operator, conductor, or the like alone can set the sign.

The locking mechanism shown comprises two parallel linkage bars 50 and 51 running the length of the sign diametrically opposite the knob tubes 36. The bars are pivotally mounted on arms 54 providing a parallelogram movement for each bar. Bars `50 `and 51 are arranged to engage opposite sides of tapered ilange rims 56 on the back of clutch faces 44 and wedge all the clutch faces 44 from -45 under pressure of spring l58. Bars 50 and I51 are held from bending when the knobs are pressed by portions 60 of enclosure 18. Solenoid 48 has the end of its plunger linked to an arm 54 on each bar andarranged to spread bars 50 and 51 apart when energized, releasing the knobs for in and out movement whereby the operator can change the sign.

A ratchet 62 engages a ratchet wheel portion 63 of each knob sleeve 36 so that sign roll 10 and cover roll cannot be unrolled slack from the rolls by turning a knob in the wrong direction. The ratchets 62 are secured to the rocker-yoke arms 40 to travel in and out with the sleeves 36.

When it is desired that the sign be remotely controlled the arrangement shown in Figure 5 is preferred. About each shaft 26, 16, 17, and 29; either at the left hand end of the sign where there -is more space available or (as shown in Figure 3) at the right side toward the center from the clutches; ratchet wheels 64, 66, 67, and 69 are respectively secured. The upper two wheels 64 and 66 are arranged to be turned clockwise by electromagnetic ratchets 74 and 76. The lower two wheels 67 and 69 are arranged to be turned counterclockwise by electromagnetic ratchets 77 and 79 respectively, Each electromagnetic ratchet has a ratchet or driving pawl 80 having the usual spring arrangement which permits it to return with little back force on the ratchet Wheel. Each ratchet wheel has a pivoted tongue 82 (Figure 6) comprising a catch -83 held outward in sleeve 84 by spring 85 against the teeth 86 of the ratchet wheel and pivoted at 87 to box 118 and arranged by spring 88 to hold catch 83 against stop 89 as the driving pawl 80 returns but arranged to recede out of the way to permit the ratchet wheel to be turned in ratching direction and swing out of the way when the wheel -is turned in the other direction without excessive force as the sign or cover roll is pulled or a knob turned. The electromagnetic ratchets are preferably of the solenoid type shown with the ratchet pawl 80 pivotally secured to the end of the solenoid plunger. A flange 96 is secured about the plunger of each solenoid. A compression spring 98 on the solenoid side of each ange holds the plunger extended, and a compression spring 99 between the other side of the ange and plate 100 secured to box 18 opposes outward movement of the plunger, whereby the ratchet can be pulled in by the solenoid or pushed out by the turning of the ratchet wheel until the ratchet skips a ratchet wheel tooth. The ratchets turn their ratchet wheels in the same direction as each knob turns the ratchet wheel on the same shaft. Each electromagnetic ratchet is shown deenergized in spring centered neutral position. Each ratchet has contacts closed by iange contactor 96 before the ratchet skips a tooth. Electrical circuits are arranged to be connected by the contacts of the ratchet whose roll is being unrolled to energize the solenoids of the ratchets at the end being hand turned whereby other similar signs are turned by ratchet whenever one sign on the circuit is turned by hand.

The ratchet solenoids are operated from battery 106 having a center tap neutral 108 connecting train line 110 which is grounded. The positive of battery 106 is connected to train line 111 through ilange 96 on ratchet 74 and to train line 112 through ilange 96 on ratchet 79. The negative of battery 106 is connected to train line 111 through flange 96 on ratchet 77 and to train line 112 through flange 96 on ratchet 76. Across train lines 1110 and 1'11 are connected solenoids of ratchets 76 and 79 respectively in series with rectifier 114, arranged to pass current from line 110 to 111, and rectifier 115 arranged to pass current from line 111 to i110. Across train lines 110 `and 112 are connected solenoids of ratchets 74 and 77 respectively in series with rectifier '116, arranged to pass current from line 112 to line 110, and rectier 117 arranged to pass current from line 110 to line 112.

When ratchet wheel 66 is turned clockwise by the hand wheel 34, ratchet 77 jumps teeth closing its contacts once for each tooth jumped, connecting the negative of battery 106 to train line 111, operating ratchets 76 in all signs of the train connected, turning them together. When ratchet wheel 67 is turned counterclockwise by its hand wheel 34, ratchet 76 jumps teeth and closes its contacts once for each tooth jumped, connecting negative ously as the cover roll is operated in the reverse direction, since each is then operated from a different train line.

End-of-the-roll stop switches 120 and 122 are preferably `added as shown for the sign roll 10. Switch 120 opened by linger 124 on the end of roll 10 opens the circuit to ratchet 76 stopping the unreeling. Switch 122 opened by a similar finger at the beginning of roll 10 opens the circuit to ratchet 77 stopping the rereeling.

By this arrangement the rolls are protected from tearing oi -the ends of the rollers and can be ratched to the beginning (or end) of travel by means such as switch connected across contacts of ratchet 77 to return sign roll 10 to the beginning and switch 132 connected across contacts of ratchet 74 to return the cover to the top. Switches 130 and 132 are worked by hand or otherwise long enough to insure that the rolls have reached the top. End of the roll stop switches would be similarly connected kas for the sign roll to open the circuits to the solenoids of ratchets 74 and 79 to limit movement of the cover roll, but are not shown for the sake of simplicity of drawing.

The same sign is used for both directions of traffic; for one direction it is read top lto bottom, for the other from bottom to top. The operator sets the first or last stop (according to the direction of travel) to appear first at the top of the sign and then adjusts the cover roll to cover over the stops at the bottom of the list which are not to be made. If stops within the list are not to be made they can be covered over by stiif strips of paper across the sign roll clipped -at the ends to the edges of the sign roll. After each stop on the list is made, the sign could be turned to cover -over that stop, so that passengers can see at a glance what is the next stop. 'I'he sign roll could be paper, cloth, or plastic and can be illuminated from the front or rear as desired.

Having thus described one embodiment of my inventron it iS understood that @various changes can be made e within the spirit'and scope of this invention `as dened in the accompanying claims. p

I claim: ,Y 1. A ratchet wheel yarranged-to revolve in either direction having a ratchet pawl engaged with said wheel and actuating to turn said wheel in a given direction, said ratchet having resilient means permitting the pawl of said ratchet to extend in the'opposite direction from ratcheting to skip teeth when said wheel is forced in the opposite direction from'ratcheting and retractable and pivoted tongue holding said vwheel so that said ratchet pawl can vreturn to engage successive teeth during ratcheting and comprising a pin, a guideV piece having a hole in which said pin rides, a spring forcing said pin outward of said hole and radially :against a tooth of said wheel,

. supporting meansrpivotally holding said guide piece so as to swing said pin in the direction of movement of the tooth with which said pin is engaged, stop means preventing movement of said pin in the direction of ratcheting said wheel, and'resilient means permitting movement of said pin about said pivot on said support in the opposite direction to enable said wheel to be revolved against the direction vof ratcheting said` ratchet and yet hold said wheel during the return of said pawl during ratcheting. 2." In combination, a ratchet including a toothed wheel andpawl, means resiliently centering said pawl tangentially relative to said wheel and enabling suicient movement of said pawl to skip teeth when suflicient force is applied to revolve said wheel in the opposite direction to ratcheting, and electrical contacts arranged to be closed by movement of said pawl so as to operate when said ratchet is about to skip a tooth. 3. A combination as claimed in claim 2 and a solenoid ratchet, electrical power means and circuit means connecting said power means to said solenoid ratchet through-said-electrical contacts-,to ratchet said solenoid ratchet one tooth' eac-h tooth skippedby said iirst mentioned ratchet;V

4. In a system for simultaneously turning a plurality of display tape reels, a plurality of tapes, reeling spools, each end of each said tape being wrapped on a said reeling spool, means supporting in relative position said reeling spools on which are wrapped ends of the same tape, ratchet wheels each arranged to turn with a said spool, solenoid operated ratchets each engaging a said ratchet wheel and arranged to turn a said spool in such a direction as to reel on the tape wrapped thereon, an electrical circuit in which is connected the solenoids of the ratchets of similar ends of the tapes, and contact means associated with the spool for the other end of a said tape, said contact means being arranged to close by the reeling out movement of the spool therewith associated once for each ratchet tooth pitch movement of the reeling on ratchet whereby the turning of one sign similarly rotates the other signs.

5. A system for reversible operation of similar adjustable sign rolls in step and comprising in combination a plurality of adjustable signs each having a sign roll, two rollers each supporting and secured to an end of said roll, first solenoid ratchets, each said roller .having a ratchet wheel of a said ratchet associated therewith to hold and turn the roller in such a direction as to reel up the end off said roll secured thereon, the pawls of said ratchets being resiliently centered and said wheels resiliently latched lagainst backward movement to permit said pawl to engage the next tooth during ratcheting and yet permit said ratchet wheel to be revolved in the opposite direction to its ratcheting direction, a rst electrical circuit including a power sourceand contacts connected to energize the solenoids of the said ratchets at similar ends of said signs to ratchet once for each cycle of opening and closing of said contacts to turn said signs in step, and a second electrical circuit having contacts connected to energize intermittently the solenoids of the other said ratchets to rewind said signs in stepto any desiredY posi-tion. f

6. In asystem as claimed in claim 5, a cover roll on each said sign, a transparent opening in-said cover roll for adjustably exposing said sign roll, a cover roller supporting each end of said cover roll, a second solenoid 4ratchet associated with each said cover roller to drive that roller to reel said cover roll on that roller,` and electrical circuit means connected to each said second ratchet and similarly arranged to drive s-aid' cover roll as said lirst mentioned ratchets and electrical circuits are to drive said sign rolls, each said circuit having one side in common and the other side of each being opposite in polarity, and polarizing means arranged in said circuits to permit operation of said'cover rolls or to permit operation of said sign rolls according to the polarity of the voltage applied-to the circuits through a said ratchet;

7. In a system as claimed in claim 5, a first limit switch inV said iirst circuit, a second limitswitch-in said second circuit, means associated with said roll to open-said lirst limit switch when said roll reaches its end, means associated with said roll to open said -second switch when said roll reaches its start position. l8. An adjustable sign for designating stops to be made by a railway car when uncoupled from a train, comprising a sign vertically listing in consecutive order stops to be made by vehicles leaving said train; a 'cover arranged to cover a portion of the face of said sign, an enclosure having an opening through which said `sign and cover appear, said enclosure having at said yopening a substantiallyhorizontal edge,- means for Vadjustingand holding saidsign selectively in any of a number of vertical positions relativerto said enclosure so that said edge canfalll between any desired lines of said list, said cover having a substantially horizontal edge lying across said openingand spaced apluralityrof lines from said first mentionededge so as to expose to view a plurality of lines of print on said sign between said edges, and means for vertically adjusting and holding said cover so that its said edge can fall between lines of said list to display a.

` variable number of said lines.

9. A system for reversible operation of adjustable signs in step and comprising in combination; a plurality of adjustable signs each having: a sign roll; a roller supporting each end of said sign roll, said sign roll being rolled and secured thereon; ratchet Wheels each associated with a said roller to turn the roller and electrically controlled pawls each arranged to drive a said Wheel in such a direction as to reel up the end of the roll thereby driven; said pawls being resiliently centered to permit said ratchet wheel therewith engaged to be revolved in the reverse direction from ratcheting; electrical circuit means including a power source, first electrical contacts for on-off cycling to control said ratchet pawls at one end of each said sign roll to turn said signs, and second contacts to be on-ot cycled to control the other said ratchets for rewinding said signs to any desired position; and means for separately oper-ating said rst and said second contacts.

l0. A system for solenoid 'operation of similar adjustable roll signs in step, each sign comprising in combination a sign roll, supporting roller assemblies, each end of each said roll being supported by a said roller assembly, ratchets including ratchet wheels each consaid ratchet to be operated when the pawl of that ratchet is pulled sufficiently far in reverse from ratcheting, and circuit means for energizing the solenoid of each said Vratchet said circuit means being connected through the said contacts associated with the ratchet for the Apposite said roller once each tooth skipped, circuit means 4connecting each said ratchet and each of said contacts in parallel with the equivalent on each said sign so that the closing of contacts on one sign ratchets all said signs, and means to reel a said sign.

11. In a sign having a plurality of rolls where one roll passes over the face of another, a shaft and reeling means separately supporting each end of said rolls, a l

ratchet wheel on and secured to turn each said shaft, electromagnetic ratchets each arranged to drive a said ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheels being `arranged to drive opposite ends of the same roll in opposite directions,

manual means for turning said ratchet wheels, each said ratchet being spring centered to drive or be driven by its said ratchet wheel, an electrical circuit and contacts therein closed by the said ratchet which drives the other end of the roll, said contacts being closed once for each Atooth of the reversely driven ratchet Wheel skipped whereby similar signs having similar ratchets electrically connected can be driven in step when any ratchet is manually turned.

12. On an adjustable sign comprising a sign roll and a cover roll, a reel at each end of each said roll, an actuating mechanism therefore comprising, a ratchet Wheel associated with each said reel to turn that reel; four ratchet relays each having a ratchet engaging a said ratchet wheel; each said ratchet being free to be moved by its ratchet `Wheel so as to jump back a tooth at a time as the wheel is turned against the ratchet and each said ratchet being arranged to turn its wheel in the opposite direction a tooth each time the coil of the said relay is energized, and current source, circuit, and switch means arranged to successively energize and deenergize each said relay whereby said medium 'is reeled in a first direction by one said ratchet relay and Wheel as the other ratchet jumps teeth and alternately reeled in the opposite direction by the ratchet which jumped teeth in the iirst direction of reeling. l

' 13. On ya sign comprising, two rolls, a medium supported on both rollers arranged to be reeled from one roller to the other and back; an actuating mechanism comprising, two ratchet Wheels, two ratchets each engaging a said wheel, each said wheel being associated with a said roll to turn with the said roll to reel said medium on that roll when turned by the said ratchet engaging that Wheel, each said ratchet being free to be moved by its ratchet wheel so as to jump teeth as the wheel is turned against the ratchet, means arranged to actuate either said ratchet whereby the medium is moved in either direction and spring positioned pawls each engaging a said ratchet wheel and arranged to retract radially when the ratchet wheel is ratcheted and to yield tangentially when the wheel is turned against the ratchet to skip teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 98,773 Jeffers Ian. 11, 1870 120,072 Jeffers Oct. 17, 1871 503,389 Sheppman Aug. 15, 1893 887,579 Billings May 12, 1908 1,415,712 Rontey May 9, 1922 1,690,244 Periale NOV. 6, 1928 1,706,876 Dunn Mar. 26, 1929 2,192,257 Champion et al. Mar. 5, 1940 2,455,210 Anderson Nov. 30, 1948 2,627,755 Hooker Feb. 10, 1953 2,765,552 Schlafly Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,962 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1914 408,227 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1934 

